Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 37-year-old ex-convict, Nwobodo Chidiebere Basil, alongside three cargo agents over an attempt to export cocaine hidden in liquid starch sachets to the United Kingdom.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi. He said the arrests followed the interception of 75 wraps of cocaine, weighing 1.50 kilograms, at the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
According to Babafemi, the three cargo agents—Jubrin Firdausi Hassana, Kuku Daniel Oluwasegun and Igwe Chioma Jane—were apprehended on December 20 during the initial operation. Further investigations led to the arrest of Nwobodo the next day at a relaxation centre in Ikeja.
“A notorious drug trafficker, Nwobodo Basil, previously convicted for dealing in 30.10kg of methamphetamine in 2023, has again been apprehended following this seizure. He was located at a relaxation centre on a date with his girlfriend,” Babafemi said.
He explained that NDLEA records showed Nwobodo had earlier been arrested in May 2023 over the seizure of 30.10kg of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers and bound for London.
“He was subsequently arraigned at a Federal High Court in charge number: FHC/L/337C/2023, convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment with an option of a fine of ₦7,000,000.00, along with one-month community service, with effect from 4th December, 2023. He paid the fine and soon after returned to the same crime,” Babafemi added.
In related operations, Babafemi said NDLEA operatives arrested a 65-year-old driver in Gombe State with a large cache of pentazocine injections and tramadol tablets, while a businessman, Ignatius Egbochie, also known as Brown, was apprehended in Lagos over an earlier seizure of 26kg of “loud” cannabis at the Tincan Port.
“In Gombe state, a 65-year-old driver Sada’u Mohammed was arrested while conveying 300 ampoules of pentazocine injection, and 27,900 pills of tramadol, and other opioids, along the Gombe-Biu highway, heading to Biu in Borno state,” he said.
“Meanwhile, a 47-year-old businessman Ignatius Egbochie (alias Brown) wanted in connection with the seizure of 56 parcels of Loud, a strain of cannabis, weighing 26kg at the Tincan seaport in Lagos, has been arrested by NDLEA operatives.
“The illicit drug consignment was seized on 10th December during a joint examination of a container by NDLEA, Customs and other security agencies. A follow-up operation by NDLEA operatives on 19th December led to the arrest of Ignatius in Apapa,” the statement noted.
Babafemi further disclosed that in separate raids conducted between December 21 and 25, 2025, NDLEA operatives destroyed warehouses and seized large quantities of cannabis in Ekiti, Edo, Cross River, Abuja, Lagos and Taraba states, with several suspects taken into custody.
“In another successful operation, NDLEA operatives on Monday, December 22, set ablaze tons of skunk, a strain of cannabis and wooden warehouses in Ara forest, Ara-Ekiti, where 638 kilograms of the same psychoactive substance were also recovered. No fewer than 1,205 blocks of compressed cannabis sativa, weighing 883.1kg were recovered from three Toyota Camry vehicles intercepted by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Igara-Auchi road, Edo state on Monday, 22nd December.
“In Cross River state, raid operations conducted on Sunday, 21st December at Agoi-Ibami community, Yakurr LGA, led to the arrest of three suspects and seizure of various quantities of skunk. They include: Freedom Jonah Akpama, 27, with 671kg; David Itam David, 30, with 89kg; and Nelson Arikpo Osam, 26, with 148kg,” the statement added.